Parking meter resetting apparatus



Jan. 28, 1958 J. w. CRUSE I 2,321,283

PARKING METER RESETTING APPARATUS Filedlay 23, 1955 INVENTOR. s/OSL'PI/ IY. CZU5 i roz/ws X5 PARKING METER RESETTING APPARATUS Joseph W. Cruse, Tuscaloosa, Ala., assignor of fifty-two percent to J. P. Burchfield, twelve percent to Mrs. Nell M. Burchfield, twelve percent to Wilbur Manderson Burchfield, twelve percent to Joe Lee Burchfield, and twelve percent to Joseph Pegues Burchfield III, all of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Application May 23, 1955, Serial No. 510,464

7 Claims. (Cl. 194-1) This invention relates to parking meter resetting apparatus and has for an object the provision of improved means for returning the indicator member of the parking meter to zero position at the time a vehicle leaves the parking space controlled by the meter, whereby no unused time is left showing on the meter and a second vehicle entering the parking space will not obtain free parking for the unexpired period of time paid for by the previous occupant of the parking space.

Another object of my invention is to provide parking meter resetting apparatus which is adapted for use on conventional type parking meters now in use without materially altering the construction of the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide parking meter resetting apparatus of the character designated which is actuated by a shock resistant treadle member positioned in the path of a parking vehicle whereby the meter is rendered operative upon the entrance of a vehicle and the indicator member of the meter is returned to zero position immediately the vehicle leaves the parking space, thus making the meter operable only while a vehicle occupies the parking space.

Briefly my improved resetting apparatus for parking meters comprises a drive shaft connected non-rotatably to the driving means for the meter and adapted for axial movement relative thereto. A clutch member connects the drive shaft to the indicator member and is operable upon axial movement of the drive shaft. The drive shaft is moved axially by an actuating member in position to be operated by a vehicle as it enters the parking space, whereby the drive shaft is moved axially in a direction to engage the clutch while a vehicle is in the parking space and is moved in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch upon removal of the vehicle from the parking space. A coin slot cover member is operatively connected to the actuating member whereby the coin slot is covered while there is no vehicle in the parking space.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line IIII of Fig. 1, showing the clutch in disengaged position and showing the turn knob and coin operated toggle assembly rotated 90 from their normal positions and without the deposit of a coin;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a slightly modified form of treadle member; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the mechanism for operating the coin slot cover member.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a parking meter indicated generally at which is of the conventional spring motor type. The meter. is mounted on a post 11 which is anchored to a sidewalk 12 adjacent the curbing 13 of thestreet 14, the adjacent portion of which is employed as a'parking space.

* United States PatentO 2,821,283 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 ice The meter ;10comprises the usual housing 16 having coin slots 17 in" one side thereof and a stationary dial 18. Associated with the dial 18 is a pointer or indicator member 19 and the usual warning flags 21 which follow the operation of the indicator member 19 whereby they are in view when the indicator member returns to zero position.

Mounted for rotation in the side of the housing 16 adjacent the coin slot 17 is a short shaft member 22. Mounted on the shaft 22 outwardly of the housing 16 is an operating handle 23. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft 22 is a coin operated toggle assembly 24 which engages a stationary cam member 26 when a coin is deposited and the operating handle 23 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. As the toggle assembly is thus rotated, a portion 27 at the free end thereof moves into engagement with a time selecting gear 28 thus causing rotation of the same an angular distance which is determined by the coin deposited. The time selector gear 28 'is mounted non-rotatably on a shaft 29 which carries a timing cam 31 and the warning fiags 21, in the usual manner. The timing cam 31 engages the indicator member 19 and moves the same about a pivot pin 32 in a counterclockwise direction as the operating handle 23 is moved in a clockwise direction. As shown in Fig. 2, a spring 33 urges the indicator member 19 toward zero position.

The apparatus described above is the conventional type apparatus now employed on spring motor type meters. My improved apparatus for resetting the meter is associated with the mechanism described above in a manner now to be described.

Secured to the side wall of the housing 16 opposite the operating handle 23 is an auxiliary housing 34. Extending through the housing 34 and the housing 16 and mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 36 and 37 is a horizontal drive shaft 38. Mounted within the housing 16 adjacent the auxiliary housing 34 is a spring motor unit indicated generally at 39. The spring motor is provided with a coil spring 41 which is secured at one end by a pin 42 to a stationary plate member 43 which in turn is secured to the housing 16 by means of rivets 44. The other end of the coil spring is secured to a drive gear 46 by means of a bolt 47. The drive gear 46 is provided with an axially extending sleeve portion 48 which is splined internally for slidably receiving a splined portion 49 of the drive shaft 38. The drive shaft is thus connected non-rotatably to the gear 46 and is adapted for axial movement relative thereto.

Mounted on the inner end of shaft 29 is a crown gear 51 and mounted on the inner end of the drive shaft 38 is a second crown gear 52. The crown gears 51 and 52 thus face each other and define a crown gear type clutch for connecting and disconnecting the shaft 29 and the drive shaft 38. The drive shaft 38 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 53 which is disposed to fit in an axially extending opening 54 provided in the shaft 29. Surrounding the shaft 29 intermediate the crown gears 51 and 52 is a compression spring 56 which urges the crown gear 52 away from the crown gear 51, as shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted for rotation on the drive shaft 38 within the auxiliary housing 34 is a cam member 57. Axial movement of the cam member 57 relative to the drive shaft 38 is limited by inwardly projecting pin members 58 which ride in an annular groove 59 formed in the outer surface of the drive shaft. Secured to the housing 34 outwardly of the cam member 57 is a second cam member 61 which slidably receives the drive shaft 38 and is provided with a cam surface corresponding to that of the cam member 57 whereby the drive shaft 38 is moved axially as the cam member 57 is rotated.

Mounted on the curb 13 is a suitable housing 62 for shown in Fig. 1, by, means ofa spring member67-which surrounds the.pivot.piu.66 and;is: anchored atone end to the swing end of the arm 64 by means of a pivot. pin 68. The. otherend of the spring 67 ;is anchored to the housing 62 by meansrof a pin 69. Asnshown in Fig. :3, the legs of the angular shaped. arm. 64. form an, obtuse, angle which verliesthe;parking space with the legs of the angle directed away from. the parking space. By providing such a construc ion, .vehiclescan,park parallel to the curb 13 without the liability; of damage to the..actuatin g member. The .endof the'arm 64 adjacent: the pivot pin- 66 is provided with a cam surface 71. .Secured to the arm 64 as at 72 is a flexible cable.73which; passes around thecam surface 71. Theotherend of .the ,cable ;7.3,is secured as at .74 to the cam member57. mounted on the drive shaft 38. The fiexiblecable 73. ,passesrthrough a tubular housing member 76 mounted alongside the post 11 .and secured thereto by suitablestrapmembers 77. It will thus be seen that as the arm.64.is, moved inwardly tby the Wheel of a vehicle, thecable 73 passing around the camsurface 71 rotates the cam member. 57v thereby causing axial movement of the drive shaft 38 inwardlytoward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby the crown gear 52 moves into engagement with .the crown gear 51.

Pivotally connected to, a pivot:pin 78,on the inner wall of the housing 16 adjacent the coin slot 17 is a coin slot cover member 79. The cover member 79 is-provided with an inwardly projecting arm 81 having a link .82,pivotally connected thereto. Thedrive shaft 38 isprovided with a second reduced diameter portion 83 which projects through asuitable opening 84 at the end of the shaft 29. The shaft 38 isreduced further in diameter at the end thereof as at 86 for slidably receiving one end of an arm .87. The arm 87 is held against axial movement relative to the driveshaft 38bymeans of a collar 88 and set screw 89. The other end of the arm 87 is provided with a sleeve like bearing member 91 which receives a rod like guide member 92 secured rigidly to the housing 16. The drive shaft 38 is thus free to rotate relative to the arm 87 and the arm moves with the shaft as the shaft is moved axially. The link 82is pivotallyconnected to the arm 87 by means of a pivotpin 93 whereby the coin slot cover member 79 is moved tothe'dotted line position as the drive shaft 38 is moved to the left,qas viewed in Fig. 5.

Secured to the gear 46 of the spring motor 39 is an axial ly extending pin Mounted on the plate'43iu position to engage the pin 94is a stop member 96 which permits the gear46 to rotate in a direction to unwind the meter driving spring to a predetermined tension so that subsequent operation of the meter will not wind the spring too tightly.

In Fig. 4 I show ;a slightly modified form of actuating member in the form of an arm 64a pivotally mounted adjacent one end to apivot pin 66a. A spring 67a passes around the pivotpin 66a-and is secured to the swing end of the arm 64a by means of a pivot pin 68a. The other end of the spring 67a.is anchored by means of a pivot pin 69a to the housing indicated at 62a. The arm 64a is provided with a cam surface 71a adjacent the pivot pin 66a around which the flexible shaft 73 passes. The shaft 73 is secured to the arm 64a as at 72a whereby the cam member 57 is rotated as the arm 64a is moved inwardly by'the wheel of. a vehicle. The actuating member shown in'Fig.-4 is particularly adapted for diagonal parking.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved parking member resetting apparatus will be readily understood. To park a vehicle, it is driven into the parkingspace whereupon the rightfront wheel thereof engages the arm 64 or 64a, as the case may be, thereby pulling the flexible cable 73 and in turn rotating the cam member 57. vAs the cam member 57 is rotated, the drive shaft 38 is moved axially to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the crown gear .52 toengage the crown gear 51, thereby connecting the spring motor 39 to the time selector gear 28. As the drive shaft 38 is moved axially to the left, the, arm 87 isshifted in, a direct ion to cause rotation of'the coinslotcover member .79 to the dottedline position, as show1iin.-Fig..5. Upon depositing a coinrinthe coin slot 17 and then rotating the :operating handle 23 the portion27 of the scoinoperatedtoggle 24 moves into engagement with the time selector gear 28 thereby connecting the operating handle 23 to the spring motor '39. Continued rotation of the operating handle 23 causes the spring motor 39 to be wound. .As the shaft 29 is rotated, the timing cam 31 engages the indicator member 19 thereby. moving the same about its pivot pin 32 wherebyit indicates the amount of parking time on the meter dial 1.8. Also, as the shaft. is rotated, the warning flags 21 move downwardly out of sight, in the usualmanner. It will be understood that the portion 27 of the coin operated toggle24 will notmove into engagement with the time selector gear28 untila coin is deposited in the slot 17. That.is,.the .coin operated toggle 24 operates independent of the time selector gear 28 when there is no coin deposited, .as'shownin Fig. 2.

When the'vehicle leavesthe parking space, pressure on the treadle-actuating.member 64'or 64a, as the case may be, is released whereupon thecam 57 is free to rotate to its;original position due-to the pressure exerted against the sameby the compression spring 56. That is to say, the compression spring 56 moves the crown gear 52 out of engagementwith the crown gear 51 and shifts the splined drive shaft 38 axially to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, relativezto the spring motor '39. At this time, the indicator member 19 isdisconnected from the spring motor thus permitting the spring 33 to return the same to zero position, as shown in Fig. 1. Also, at this time the warning flag 21,moves to the raised position whereby his in view,.as shown in Fig. 1. Also, as the drive shaft is moved axiallyto the right, as viewedin Fig. 2, the arm 87 moves With thesame thereby moving the coin slot cover member 79 to the'solid lineposition whereby the mechanism will not accept a coin until the treadle actuating member 64 is depressed again. After the springmotor 39 has been disengaged from the indicator member, it unwinds to a predetermined tension, determined by the stop member 96, whereby subsequent operation thereof will not wind the same too tightly.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised improved resetting mechanism for parking meters which is adapted forinstallation on conventional type parking meters with a minimum of changes therein. By providing means for disengaging the indicator member from the driving means the instant the vehicle leaves the parking space, the indicator member moves byits own spring tension to .zero position'thereby making it necessary for each user ofthe parkingspace'to make paymenttherefor. Furthermore, by-providing means preventing the deposit of a coin untilthe vehicle is properly parked, I eliminate entirely the possibility of theuser losing his coin without the proper amount of time being registeredon the meter.

placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

WhatI claim is: .1. The combination with a meter for a parking space including an indicator member urged normally toward" zero position and spring drive means 'for progressively advancing said indicator member whereby the elapsed time is indicated, of a drive shaft connected non-rotatably to said drive means and adapted for axial movement relative thereto, a clutch interposed between said drive shaft and said indicator member and operable to connect said indicator member to said drive shaft upon axial movement of the drive shaft in one direction, an actuating member in position to be operated by a vehicle, and mechanical means operatively connecting said actuating member to said drive shaft whereby the drive shaft is moved axially in a direction to engage the clutch and connect the indicator member to the drive shaft while a vehicle is in the parking space and is moved in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch upon removal of the vehicle from said space whereupon the indicator member is free to move to zero position.

2. The combination with a meter for a parking space including an indicator member urged normally toward zero position and a spring motor for progressively advancing said indicator member whereby the elapsed time is indicated, of a drive shaft keyed non-rotatably to said spring motor and adapted for axial movement relative thereto, a clutch interposed between said drive shaft and said indicator member and operable to connect said indicator member to said drive shaft upon axial movement of the drive shaft in one direction, a cam member mounted for rotation on said drive shaft, means limiting axial movement of said cam member relative to said shaft, a stationary cam surface engaging said cam member whereby upon rotation of the cam member said drive shaft is moved axially, an actuating member in position to be operated by a vehicle, mechanical means operatively connecting said actuating member to said cam member whereby the drive shaft is moved axially in a direction to engage the clutch and connect the indicator member to the drive shaft while a vehicle is in the parking space and is moved in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch upon removal of the vehicle from said space whereupon the indicator member is free to move to zero position, and means limiting the unwinding action of said spring motor whereby its spring is unwound to a predetermined tension through its normal operation.

and defining an obtuse angle overlying an edge of the parking space with the legs thereof directed away from the parking space.

6. The combination with a meter for a parking space including an indicator member urged normally toward zero position and spring drive means for progressively advancing said indicator member whereby the elapsed time is indicated, of a drive shaft connected non-rotatably to said drive means and adapted for axial movement relative thereto, a first crown gear operatively connected to said indicator member, a second crown gear mounted nonrotatably on said drive shaft and disposed to engage said first crown gear upon axial movement of the drive shaft in one direction and disengage said first crown gear upon axial movement of the drive shaft in the opposite direction, means urging said drive shaft toward said opposite direction, an actuating member in position to be operated by a vehicle, and mechanical means operatively connecting said actuating member to said drive shaft whereby the drive shaft is moved axially in the direction to engage said crown gears while a vehicle is in the parking space and releases said drive shaft for movement in the opposite direction upon removal of the vehicle from said space.

7. The combination with a coin actuated meter for a parking space including an indicator member urged normally toward zero position, drive means for progressively advancing said indicator member whereby the elapsed time is indicated and a coin slot cover member, of a drive shaft connected non-rotatably to said drive means and adapted for axial movement relative thereto, a clutch connecting said drive shaft to said indicator member and operable upon axial movement of the drive shaft, an actuating member in position to be operated by a vehicle, means operatively connecting said actuating member to said drive shaft whereby the drive shaft is moved axially in a direction to engage the clutch while a vehicle is in the parking space and is moved in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch upon removal of the vehicle from said space, an arm having an opening through one end thereof for slidably receiving a portion of the drive shaft, means limiting axial movement of said arm relative to said shaft, and a link connection between said arm and the coin slot cover member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,885 Lewis Dec. 30, 1913 1,973,275 Babson Sept. 11, 1934 2,231,681 Prescott Feb. 11, 1941 2,462,610 Burum Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,981 Great Britain of 1911 

